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Emotional intelligence in leadership

By Markus Spsike

We all strive to better ourselves as professionals and to be leaders within the translation industry in order to improve our businesses and personal brand. In this article, I will highlight the importance of emotional intelligence skills in your daily work and when working within a team. For me, it is a must-have, and mastering emotional intelligence can improve your professional and personal life. 

First, let’s explore why emotional intelligence is important in a business environment. Emotional intelligence is defined as the capacity to control, express one's emotions, handle and be aware of interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically. It sounds just like what you would look for in a manager or senior team member, a leader who will be able to guide and improve a team’s performance. Some of these responsibilities include decision-making, coaching, mentoring, developing the team's skills and managing conflict, to name a few. Emotional intelligence is the skill that enhances all of your other professional skills and will lead you to success. 

There are four main categories when talking about emotional intelligence in leadership: 

1. Self-awareness

Being knowledgeable of your character and feelings, and how they affect the people around you. You can recognise your own strengths and weaknesses. 

2. Self-management

This refers to your ability to regulate and manage your own emotions. You have a positive outlook, can admit your mistakes and can accept the consequences.

3. Social awareness

Being able to recognise other people’s emotions and social dynamics, showing empathy towards others. You are able to understand and share other people’s perspectives.

4. Relationship management

This is the supervision and maintenance of business relationships with the ability to influence, coach and mentor others, and resolve conflict effectively.


There are different types of leadership, such as Transactional (based on punishment and reward, seeking to maintain the status quo) and Laissez-faire (followers have to fend for themselves).

I would like to focus on transformational leadership. This is a leadership style in which leaders work with employees to identify necessary changes for the growth and success of the company, and help them carry them out thorough encouragement and inspiration. Transformational leadership influences followers and inspires them to perform beyond their perceived capabilities by challenging the status quo. 

There are four basic responsibilities of a transformational leader: influence, motivate, considerate, stimulate. In other words, they are a role model for their followers, there to inspire and motivate them, empathise with them and help them through self-discovery, plus challenge them to improve their performance.
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